High winds drove Gales Ferry house fire

Ledyard — A wind-fed fire tore through a home at 15 Chapman Lane in Gales Ferry Monday afternoon, heavily damaging about one-third of the structure and likely making it unlivable, fire officials said.

The residents were home at the time, but no injuries were reported. The fire marshal is investigating the cause.

The fire was first reported at 1:16 p.m. and Gales Ferry Fire Chief Anthony Saccone said firefighters arrived to find a fire blazing on the exterior of the Cape Cod-style home and pushing through blown-out windows into the interior. A sunroom had been destroyed completely by the time firefighters arrived.

Saccone said he immediately called in mutual aid from several surrounding towns in part because of the high winds that were spreading the fire. Crews from Gales Ferry joined with firefighters from Ledyard, Poquetanuck, Poquonnock Bridge, the Naval Submarine Base, Laurel Hill, Mohegan, Mashantucket, Old Mystic and Mohegan Tribal.

Firefighters fought the blaze with water from a hydrant on Route 12, Saccone said.

"The guys made a good stop, all things considered," he said.

Town records show the house, built in 1997, is owned by Brian Osborne.

Groton Ambulance, American Ambulance, Ledyard police and the Salvation Army Canteen also responded.

Editor's note: This version corrects an earlier version that misstated how many people were home at the time of the fire.